On the road

Sights

Parc des Oiseaux (Bird Park)

It showcases one of the finest and most extensive collections of birds found in any wildlife park in Europe, with over 3,000 birds from every continent. The way in which these specimens – representing 18 of the 25 orders of birds – are displayed is what makes the park so unique. Twenty aviaries, designed to replicate the natural environment as closely as possible, break down the barriers between humans and animals. The park also stands out for its bird-in-flight displays, which showcase not only the traditional birds of prey but the full diversity of the species present. Most of the birds currently featured in the show were born in Villars-les-Dombes, and each one has been cared for by its keepers since birth. In 2008, the Parc des Oiseaux show was awarded the ‘Prix des Étoiles du Tourisme’ for the best artistic and festive event by the Ministry of Tourism. Forty of the species on display at the Parc des Oiseaux are listed on the Red List of Threatened Species, compiled by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Parc des Oiseaux is committed to raising public awareness of the need to protect and preserve threatened species and habitats in the wild. In 2026, the park installed an outdoors arts exhibition on the theme of birds called Les Etincelantes.

Villars Castle Mound

Construction: 10th century.

History: The motte, or ‘poype’, with a few sections of wall remaining, is the last vestige of the ancient castle built in the 11th century by the lords of Villars and completely dismantled in 1595 by Biron’s troops, who seized the town by force, ransacked and plundered it after massacring the inhabitants. The site’s significance has been recognised since the 19th century, when the first excavations revealed the existence not only of the castle but also of a church buried at the very heart of the motte. In 1902, the ‘poype’ of Villars was acquired by the State and listed as a historic monument in 1905. Originally, the motte was erected on the outskirts of the village, which at that time was clustered around the church. The mound was built atop an early medieval building, a large hall known as the ‘aula’. In 1988, when excavation work began, a complete Romanesque church, probably dating from the 11th century, was discovered buried beneath the mound. Whilst clearing the apse, archaeologists unearthed a 10th-century square tower covered by a semi-circular barrel vault, upon which the church rests.

Note: it is worth noting that three other motte-and-bailey castles, or ‘poypes’, once stood in the commune: Filioli, destroyed around 1847, La Juyre and Termant.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1905.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin

Construction: 13th century.

Style: predominantly Romanesque.

History: the church is first mentioned in 1250. The south wall of the nave contains traces of the Romanesque period (semicircular arches; engaged columns with ornate capitals). The apse and chapels bear witness to the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Bell tower rebuilt in 1834. Partial reconstruction of the building in 1895 (roofs, sacristy, buttressed triumphal arch). Two ‘Berrichon’ archways, rare in the region, open onto the nave.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1927.

In Le Plantay (7 km away)

Notre-Dame-des-Dombes Abbey

Construction: 1860 to 1863.

History: in the mid-19th century, with a view to improving public health in a region plagued by diseases affecting the population, Mgr de Langalerie, Bishop of Belley, decided to establish a monastery where monks would work towards this aim. He contacted the Abbot of Aiguebelle, who also wished to extend the influence of his abbey. Forty monks arrived on site three years after construction began, in 1863. Their numbers have continued to grow ever since.

Key details: the abbey is open every day except Tuesdays, from 10.00 am to 11.45 am and from 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm, as is its shop, where ‘Musculine’ is sold. The church is open for self-guided visits. Guided tours are organised on the second Sunday of every month. The abbey’s farm and garden are also open to visitors.

Distinguishing feature: the abbey’s speciality is a fruit paste called ‘Musculine’. Made from quince and orange jam, sugar, honey and meat, as well as a natural flavouring to enhance the taste and a little vitamin B, it is a particularly restorative product, first presented in 1867 at the Paris World’s Fair. Musculine falls into the category of dietary products for physical exertion.

4 km away:

Bouligneux Castle

History: in 1280, the village of Bouligneux was owned by Vaucher de Commarrain, who sold it to Henri de Villars, Lord of Trévoux and Archbishop of Lyon, who held it until his death in 1301. The fiefdom then passed to his nephew Humbert IV de Thoire-Villars, who decided to build a castle there. It was Hugues de La Palu, Lord of Bouligneux, who completed the work and founded the Bouligneux branch of the family. The castle remained in the La Palu family’s possession until 1721. During the Revolution, it was decided to demolish the castle. The municipality of Bouligneux opposed this, and the castle was converted into a farm. However, the circular tower was reduced by at least one storey due to its seigneurial significance.

Characteristics: Bouligneux Castle is a typical example of the 14th-century fortified houses built in the Dombes and Bugey regions. The quadrangular brick enclosure, comprising a L-shaped main building, is flanked by four round corner towers connected by curtain walls, one of which serves as a keep. The base of this enclosure is surrounded by battlements fitted with gun ports. The moat encircling the castle was crossed via a drawbridge.

Current use: private residence; open to visitors during Heritage Days.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1926.

11 km away, in Ambérieux-en-Dombes:

Ambérieux-en-Dombes Castle

Construction: 12th to 15th centuries.

History: the château was founded in the 12th century by the lords of Villars and, like all their lands, passed to the Thoire-Villars family. The present château was built between 1370 and 1376 (according to dendrochronological analysis), under Humbert V de Thoire-Villars. The estate of Ambérieux fell into the hands of the Dukes of Bourbon. Following the flight of the Constable of Bourbon, Francis I granted it in 1524 to François de la Forêt, Lord of Rians, and sold it in 1537 to Thomas de Gadagne, Lord of Bouthéon. In 1743, Louis Auguste de Bourbon, Duke of Maine, sold the lands, together with all judicial and honorary rights, to the de Damas d’Antigny family, who still held them at the time of the convening of the Estates-General. In the 19th century, the church was built in the centre of the castle on the site of the Romanesque chapel, incorporating some of its stones. With the construction of the church, some of the ramparts were demolished. Finally, the circular tower was incorporated into the presbytery.

Features: the castle ruins comprise three towers, a square keep and the remains of a chapel. Of the three towers, two have square bases, whilst the third, with a circular base of small diameter, served as a prison. In the absence of a local quarry, the castle was built using bricks made of clay and loam. The walls are in fact composed of an inner wall and an outer wall, separated by a gap of one metre. The gap between them is filled with lime and pebbles. The Romanesque square keep is 19 metres high and is thought to date from the 12th century. Of the 14th- and 15th-century enclosure, mainly a round tower and the remains of residential buildings, which have been reused, still stand. The castle underwent a complete restoration, including the fitting of a new roof, in 2010.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument in 1905.

Sights

Grand Colombier

The highest point in Bugey (1,531 m), situated south of the Jura mountain range, the Grand Colombier massif offers numerous signposted walking trails, mountain bike routes (GTJ) and panoramic views of the Alps, Mont Blanc, Lake Bourget, the Rhône and the Bugey. There are two orientation points: Le Fenestrez at an altitude of 1,150 m (from Culoz, follow the RD120, then at the Sapette junction, take the D120b on the left) and La Croix at an altitude of 1,525 m. It is possible to drive through the massif along the D120, starting from Culoz (the climb there is particularly spectacular), Anglefort, Virieu-le-Petit or Lochieu.

Montvéran Castle

Built: 1316.

Style: medieval

History: At the entrance to the town of Culoz stands the Château de Montvéran, a jewel of 14th-century architecture. Built by Pierre de Luyrieu, the château has remained unchanged since its construction, with the exception of the towers, which were restored in the Romantic style after the Revolution. Its walls have sheltered several illustrious figures: the Constable of Bourbon took refuge there upon his departure from the Kingdom of France; the Serpollet brothers worked there with their father before becoming pioneers of the automobile; Serge Prokofiev chose this setting in 1929, which inspired his creativity; Henriette d’Angeville, who climbed Mont Blanc in 1838, was also a regular visitor to Montvéran.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument since 1946.

Heritage Centre (in Culoz)

Housed in a 14th-century building, this museum explores Culoz’s history from the Mesolithic period right up to the CIAT (an industrial ventilation and heating company), featuring its famous figures (the Serpollet brothers, Henry Dunant, etc.)

Bugey-Valromey Departmental Museum (in Lochieu)

It showcases daily life in Bugey-Valromey, from the 13th century to the present day. Over 3,000 objects illustrate the traditional aspects of a society whose economy was centred on dairy production, woodworking and stonemasonry.

Arvière Charterhouse

Built in the 12th century.

Features: in the heart of the Arvière state forest lie the ruins of the Arvière Charterhouse, the seventh of its order, founded by Saint Arthaud in the 12th century. This site, situated at an altitude of 1,200 metres, is a perfect example of the ‘Carthusian desert’ – isolated, difficult to access, and a privileged refuge for contemplative life. Since 1994, the Association des Amis du Jardin d’Arvière has created, on the site of the abbey’s former kitchen garden, an ethnobotanical garden housing a collection of plants cultivated from the Neolithic period up to the 15th century.

Listing: listed as a Historic Monument since 1995.